Key-holder



' (No Model.)

' F. W. BECKER.

KEY HOLDBR.

No.60.3,24 7 Patented May a, 1898.

- Zz/ zfesz; jzvenzor; ggz jZwme/M JW n v uisite for the insertion or removal of a key.

close to adjacent portions of the holder.

. ing the metal composing the holder as to form invention with a key inserted between the UNITED STATES FREDERICK W. BECKER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

KEY-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 603,247, dated May 3, 1898.

Application filed January 8, 1898.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. BEoxEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Key-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to key-holders commonly known as split rings, but is also applicable to other forms of keyholders composed of a single piece of wire or strip of metal in which a separation of overlapping portions of the wire or metal is req- Split rings as commonly constructed have their free ends flush with the body of the ring, and when composed of specially stiff or heavy metal it is extremely difficult to expand them sufficiently for the insertion or removal of a key without other aid than the fingers, andthe use of a knife-blade or other suitable ar-' ticle for this purpose (which is not always at hand) is liable to expand the ring to a greater extent than is requisite, thus subjecting it to unnecessary strain, which often renders it unable to resume its original or closed condition. This objectionable feature applies to any form of key-holder requiring a separation of overlapping portions for applying or removing a key where the free ends of the wire lie The object of my invention is to provide a key-holder of the class referred to which will admit of a ready separation of the parts without other aid than the key itself when being applied to the holder and which may be readily separated by hand in removing a key therefrom; and my invention consists in so bendan aperture or separation between the overlapping portions thereof, into which a portion of the ring of a key may be inserted and wedged between the overlapping portions and slipped over the end of the holder in the usual manner.

To more particularly describe my invention, I will refer to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a split ring embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view' illustrating a split ring embodying my Serial No. 666,039. (No model.)

overlapping portions thereof. Fig. 3 illustrates the application of my invention to a split ring having three convolutions of wire. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate other forms of keyholders embodying my invention.

The split ring A of Figs. 1 and 2 is composed of a single piece of wire bent to form two convolutions, and as is usual with rings of this class the free ends 0/. and b are scarfed and lie flush with the body of the ring; but instead of the convolutions lying closely together throughout their entire length the wire is bent, as at o c, to form an aperture or separation d between the convolutions and at a point away from the free ends of the ring. This aperture d is of sufficient size to admit of the partial insertion of the ring of a key for expanding the parts, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, the ring of the key being then slipped over the end a and carried between the convolutions to the end 6 in a manner well known.

It will be obvious that the aperture (1 may be formed by bending the wire of one convolution only and that a holder may be provided with two apertures, one near each end of the wire, so that a key may be inserted or removed from either end, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The split ring here shown is composed of three convolutions, the two outer convolutions being bent, as at o o, for forming the apertures d d, as clearly shown.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated my invention as applied to other forms of key-holders, which are composed of a single piece of wire, the ends of which overlap and lie close to adjacent portions of the holder and having apertures d, formed by bends c in the overlapping portions, as in the holders before described.

The application of my invention to keyholders of the class described not only serves to facilitate the application of keys to the holders, but also serves as the means for readily expanding the parts by hand for the removal of keys therefrom, this being readily accomplished by inserting the tip of the finger into the aperture d, or the parts may be separated by means of thebends c c, which afford a secure hold for the fingers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A split ring, the convolntions of which lie closely together throughout the greater portion of their length, but separated at one or more points away from the free ends thereof, substantially as shown and described.

2. A key-holder composed of a single piece of wire the two ends of which overlap, the overlapping portions lying closely together at the tips or ends of the wire, but separated at a point between said tips or ends, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. A key-holder composed of a single piece of wire bent to form two or more convolutions my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- 2o nesses.

FREDERICK \V. BECKER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM J. BAHRS, JOHN PREIsEL. 

